Improvement in ear-muffs



H. E. BONH'AM. Ear-Muff.

No.`217.768.1 Patented July 22,1879.

Ilm/670%() 7" N,FETER5. PHOTO-LITHOGRPMER, WASHINGYON. D. C.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIET E. BONHAM, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN EAR-MUFFS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,768, dated J nly22, 1879; application tiled April 15, 1879.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIET E. BONHAM, of St. Joseph, in the county ofBuchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Ear-Bluffs; and 1 do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operationof the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a partot' this specification, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon.

The drawing is a representation of my invention, showing the front ofone of the ear-muffs and the back of the other.

The present invention has relation to earmuffs formed of a sin giepiece, and adapted to be attached around and over the ears of thewearer, and more particularly to that class knitted or woven from yarnor other similar material.

Previous to my invention the car-niuft's usually worn were provided withcords or strings for attaching under the chin and over the head ofthewearer. These strings or cords did not possess the required elasticityto ai'ord comfort to the wearer, and when composed of rubber they wouldsoon lose their elastic qualities 5 and, further, the cords would tendto irritate the iiesh when drawn very tight Linder the chin, making itvery uncomfortable when moving the head.

This invention consists of an improved earmuft' having earpiecesprovided with central inside openings, with crocheted binding-edges, andcrocheted head and chin cords crocheted to the ear-pieces and integraltherewith, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the mutfs, of Zephyr, Berlinwool, Germantown yarn, or other suitable material that will possess therequired warmth. The mutfs A are crocheted from the center of the outerportion, c, and finished around the inside of the openings to receivethe ears, and, if desired, may have a lining, b, of cloth or othersuitable material.

The muifs are connected with a crocheted cord, o, integral with the mus,to pass over the head of the wearer, to prevent the danger of theirbeing lost; also, crocheted cords d el,

also integral with the muffs, one upon each of them, to fasten under thechin.

The cords c d d, are themselves crocheted, and are also crocheted to theear-pieces A A,

so that they are integral therewith, and not liable to become detachedtherefrom, as when sewed, and the crocheting of all the parts togetherpresents a more pleasing appearance to t-he eye than when otherwiseattached.

The cords c d d, being crocheted, possess the required degree ofelasticity to adapt the mut'fs to be secured to diii'erent-sized heads,and also to prevent any discomfort to the wearer by the tautness of thecords under the chin. The crochet-stitch also gives the requiredelasticity to the muffs.

The ear-pieces A A are crocheted with cen tral openings, o o, for theears to hold them in place thereon, and by employing the crochet stitchin lieu of knitting, as has heretofore been employed in the productionof an earpiece, a continuous bindingedge is given the opening o withoutdoubling the crochet-stitch, an'd the rubber cord usually employedaround the binding-edge is dispensed with, the crocheted edge of theopening alone affording sufficient elasticity to hold the car-piece inplace on the ear.

I do not desire to be understood as claiming, broadly, a knitted orwoven ear-mutt', as I am fully aware that mufts of the above characterare old.

I am also aware that it is old to construct amuff of cloth cut inseveral pieces and sewed together, and providin g such muis with stringsto fasten under the chin or over`I the head. I therefore desire itunderstood that I do not claim, broadly, such construction of ear-mutfs;but,

Having fully described my invention, what .I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, the ear-mutt' described,consisting, essentially, ot' the ear-pieces A A, provided with crochetedbinding-edges around their central inner openings, the connecting-bandsc, and attachingcords d d, all said parts being crocheted and madeintegral one with another, substantially as andrfor the purposespecitied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

HARRIET E. BONHAM.

Witnesses W. W. SAVORY, L. NIED ORP,

